Go to an emergency room or call 911 now if you have back pain and:
- you lose control of your bladder or bowels, or suddenly find it hard to start peeing [1] [2]
- you have numbness around or under your genitals, or around your anus [1] [2]
- you have weakness or numbness in both legs, especially if it is severe or getting worse [1] [2]
- you have chest pain [1]
The NHS also lists back pain that started after a serious accident, such as a car accident, as a reason to call emergency services [1]. If your crash was serious, get checked at an emergency room first. Don't drive yourself there. A chiropractic office is not an emergency room.
Contact a medical doctor right away if back pain comes with:
- weakness or numbness in your buttocks, thigh, leg or pelvis
- pain that travels down a leg below the knee
- trouble walking or keeping your balance
- pain so severe you can't get comfortable, or pain that wakes you at night
- a fever you can't explain
These come from MedlinePlus, which also lists back pain after a severe blow or fall among the reasons to contact your provider right away [3].
Car accident, car wreck, crash: the same question
People search for this in many ways: lower back pain after a car wreck, low back pain after an auto accident, a lower back injury from a car accident, a sore lower back after a crash. They are all asking the same thing. The crash is over, the lower back hurts, and they want to know what it means and what to do next.
What follows applies whichever word you use. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Only an exam can tell you what is going on in your back.
Why lower back pain can show up hours or days after a crash
Not everyone feels back pain at the scene. In the moments after a collision, your attention goes to the car, the other driver, the police and the people with you. Soreness and stiffness can become noticeable later: when you get out of bed the next morning, or after a full day of sitting, lifting or driving.
There is no fixed schedule. Some people feel it right away, some later, and some never do. Feeling fine at the scene doesn't tell you how your back will feel in a few days, and pain that shows up later doesn't mean it is less connected to the crash. If you notice it, write down the day it started and what makes it better or worse. That note is useful at any exam.
What a first exam looks for
A first visit for lower back pain after a car accident starts with what happened: the type of collision, where you were sitting, whether you were braced, and when each symptom began. Then the exam looks at your lower back and the areas connected to it:
- how far and how comfortably you can bend, twist and extend at the waist
- where it is tender, and whether the muscles along the spine are guarding
- orthopedic tests that load the low back, pelvis and hips in specific ways
- a neurological screen of the legs: strength, reflexes and sensation, which checks for signs that a nerve is involved
- whether pain travels into the buttock or leg, and how far
The findings decide what happens next. If the exam suggests imaging, or a problem that needs medical specialists, the clinic refers you out for it. Some findings mean you should be seen by a medical doctor before any chiropractic care starts, and you will be told so.
If pain runs down the leg, our article on sciatica after a car accident covers what that can mean. For the factors that shape how long back pain lasts, see what affects how long back pain lasts after a crash.
Why a dated exam matters for the record
Your medical record is the written account of what you reported, what was found and when. An exam dated close to the crash records your lower back as it was at that point, in a doctor's words, with measurements. Later visits can then be compared against it.
When there is a long gap between the crash and the first exam, the record has nothing to say about that gap. Insurers and attorneys read these records. The clinic writes down what it finds; it does not predict what anyone will decide about a claim. More on how records are kept: personal injury documentation.
Who pays for care after a car accident
Auto insurance, MedPay, PIP, and liens accepted.
Which one applies depends on your policy and the crash. The clinic checks your coverage before your first visit. To see which sources may apply to you, use the who-pays tool, or read about MedPay after a car accident and liens for accident care.
Seeing the clinic
Oakland Accident Care is a chiropractic clinic in downtown Oakland that sees only people hurt in motor vehicle collisions. Visits are in English, Spanish or Russian, with Dr. Ben Glass or Dr. Irina Velichko. The clinic holds same-day appointment slots for new accident patients. If your back pain started with neck pain, see whiplash treatment; if it started days later, see delayed symptoms after an accident. Not sure a chiropractor is the right next step? See which doctor to see after a car accident.
Ask for a call back
Leave a first name and number. We'll call you back within 30 minutes during clinic hours; outside clinic hours, first thing the next morning.
Questions
Is it normal for lower back pain to start days after a car accident?
When should I go to the emergency room instead?
Will I need an X-ray or MRI?
Who pays for lower back care after a car accident?
Related pages
Sources
- NHS, "Back pain" (last reviewed March 5, 2026). Read October 5, 2026.
- NHS, "Sciatica" (last reviewed December 3, 2024). Read October 5, 2026.
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), "Low back pain - acute" (reviewed June 27, 2026). Read October 5, 2026.
This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not diagnose. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.